Mexico bitter at leaked verdict on regime

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Mexico has reacted bitterly to leaked US cables that describe a regime losing
control of whole regions to drug cartels because of official corruption,
government turf wars and “dismal” prosecution rates.

Despite $1.4 billion (£900 million) in US aid and the mobilisation of Mexico’s
army against the drug gangs by President Calderón, “sprialling rates of
violence have made him vulnerable to criticism that his anti-crime strategy
has failed”, a diplomatic memo sent last January stated.

In another cable dated October 2009 a senior Mexican official is quoted as
saying “we have 18 months” to show success against the cartels in